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Cheney was dismissive of virtually everything Democrats are trying to do in Congress.
Photo: Robert A. Reeder

Vice President Cheney warned in an interview Wednesday that a premature withdrawal from Iraq would invite “further attacks” against the United States and said he has been surprised by the weakness of the Democratic Congress.

Most striking were his virtually taunting remarks of two men he described as friends from his own days in the House: Democratic Reps. John Dingell (Mich.) and John P. Murtha (Pa.).

In a 40-minute interview with Politico, he scoffed at the idea of two men who spent years accruing power showing so much deference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in the big spending and energy debates of the year.

Murtha “and the other senior leaders … march to the tune of Nancy Pelosi to an extent I had not seen, frankly, with any previous speaker,” Cheney said. “I’m trying to think how to say all of this in a gentlemanly fashion, but [in] the Congress I served in, that wouldn’t have happened.”

But his implication was clear: When asked if these men had lost their spines, he responded, “They are not carrying the big sticks I would have expected.”

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), who as Democratic Caucus Chair is the party’s fourth-ranking House leader, replied: “Some of us were surprised that the president didn’t have a bigger stick when he could have stood up to Dick Cheney.”

Throughout the interview, Cheney was dismissive of virtually everything Democrats are trying to do in Congress — “that probably wouldn’t surprise anybody” — on the war, spending and anti-terrorism policies.

“They’ve produced absolutely nothing that I can see that’s of benefit or consistent with the promises that they made when they went out and ran for election,” Cheney said.

Pelosi, in a statement responding to the vice president’s remarks, dismissed his comments and called on the White House to spend its time finding compromise.

“I am hopeful the president will tone down his rhetoric, put down his veto pen and work with Congress to make progress for the American people.”

Cheney offered an upbeat assessment of the Iraq war, predicting that when he and Bush leave office in January 2009 a self-governing democracy would be firmly established in Iraq.

Few military experts in either party share his optimism. But Cheney said much more work needs to be done.

But the vice president, who has been widely criticized for overly sanguine — and sometimes flat wrong — projections in the past, sounded as confident as ever that the Bush administration will achieve its objectives in Iraq.

He warned that if Democrats succeed in forcing a quick end to the war, the American people will be at greater risk.

“I think, among other things, it would encourage [Al Qaeda terrorists] to launch further attacks,” he said. “I think it would encourage them, if we were to operate in way that said, ‘You’re right, if you kill enough Americans, you can change U.S. policy,’ they’ll kill more Americans.

“I think the policies we put in place … have been directly responsible for our success at defeating all further attacks that have been launched against the United States since 9/11,” Cheney added.

“I think we’ve got people on the other side who don’t believe as I do, where there are honest and legitimate differences,” he said.

“I think people who want to change those policies, or want to stop them, have an obligation to explain and deal with the consequences that I believe would flow out of stopping those programs.”

Cheney was cautious in his language when discussing Democrats and terrorism, warning of the “great temptation” in the news media “for people to try to sensationalize this stuff.”

But throughout the interview, Cheney left no doubt that he takes pride even in some of the most-criticized policies of the Bush administration, including the wiretapping of suspected terrorists, and the long-term imprisonment and aggressive interrogation of suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“We’ve been very successful,” he said. “It’s not an accident; it’s because those programs have been there.”

Cheney, in a seemingly relaxed and unhurried mood, chatted in his shirt sleeves, not wearing glasses, with his big chair swiveled to the side to meet his visitors.

His private office was dominated by a Christmas tree decorated with berries, pine cones and birds.

In contrast to President Bush’s paper-free Oval Office desk, Cheney’s is a working desk, stacked with reference and reading material, including a pictorial directory of Congress and the latest issue of Politico.

If Cheney chose his words with care when discussing the Democrats’ approach to national security, he was much more baldly critical of their handling of the dual House-Senate majority for the past 11 months.

This is the same man who warned Bush about entering into a war with Iraq and then tried to talk him into striking Iran. He must have decided that business was so good for Haliburton and other connections that he couldn't afford not to create another war. This man is a disgrace and obviously considers himself to be above the law and the constitution. Payback is going to be Hell Dick!

Well I sure hope another War or military strike is necassary at any cost but I do believe in the United States projecting a strong image to Iran and the world. I really hope this intelligence by the NIE is factual because it does show that Iran is not an imminent threat, which is great for our safety, and it proves that the presence we have established in Iraq has worked in showing the Iranians we are serious. I hope Democrats put their partisian beliefs behind them and fund our troops without a "withdrawl timetable." The Democratic Party has potential to do very well in the 2008 elections and they seem to keep shooting themselves in the foot in Congress. What is it going to take for the Democrats to put their hatred for Bush aside and fund our troops, eliviate the Alternative Minimum Tax problem, and get the Farm Bill passed. There are so many things left on the agenda and the Democrats are doing nothing. They made promises to the American people based on partisian politics and have not achieved those promises. Even though I am a Republican I hope for success by the Democrats in the congress as the year comes to a close and pray that they can support out troops and help the the people of the United States who are counting on them.

“I don’t have any reason to question what the [intelligence] community has produced,” he said. “Now, there are things they don’t know. There’s always the possibility that circumstances will change. But I think they’ve done the best job they can with the intelligence that’s available.”

TeamPolitico: Dec. 5, 2007 - 7:36 PM EST

Cheney offered an upbeat assessment of the Iraq war, predicting that when he and Bush leave office in January 2009 a self-governing democracy would be firmly established in Iraq.

Few military experts in either party share his optimism. But Cheney said much more work needs to be done.

He must have decided that business was so good for Haliburton and other connections that he couldn't afford not to create another war. This man is a disgrace and obviously considers himself to be above the law and the constitution.

Irrelevant. He's demonstrated his affection for lies. Moreover, he will be out of office in a year and, likely, dead within the decade. He could have just as easily claimed that George will be dancing naked but for a flag lapel pin in a downtown Tehran fountain by 2010.

A little good news about the military (not political) situation in Iraq and this guy comes out from his hole... zero credibility is what you have, Mr. V.P. An absolute laugh how this guy taunts the Dems while no Republican pres. candidate wants HIS endorsement. Equally hilarious that the Repubs couldn't get anything substantial passed with full control of the WH and Congress... Keep it up, Mr. V.P.! Stay in the headlines so people won't forget you and your sham administration we they are at the polls!

Hopefully, Dick Cheney will call up his cousin and depart some knowledge into his brain. Hillary says Osama Obama HUssein Cheney doesn't have a brain but Dick will find what is there. Now, if Obama would run as the VP nomination with his cousin, Dick would be able to teach the poor soul some government, history, character and guide him to be principled.

If he continues on his current path he will be lost - eaten up by Hillary, used as a pinata and all that is sacred to him will be destroyed. Hillary plays that way and Osama cannot keep up. His wife disappeared and all the fight went out of him like a popped balloon.

If the wayObama Hussein fightswith Ahmadimijad is similar to the way he is fighting HIllary - we are lost. Iran would own NYC and we'll all be headed to Mecca on the next bus. Right now Osama Obama wants to go to Iran, lay down and let them take what they want.

Appeasement with those Iranian folk is about as rational as appeasing Hitler.

There are so many things left on the agenda and the Democrats are doing nothing.

Excuse me, but I don't think you're dealing with a full deck here. Minority 'leader' McConnell objected to the bills being brought to the floor, so perhaps you should look for blame among your own ilk.

As if you aren't just repeating everything you hear on Fix news word for word. For every criticism you make of Democrats, Republicans do the same except to a more outrageous and ridiculous degree. Take the "family values" issue. Republicans went ballistic over the Clinton/Lewinski scandal, yet there have been dozens of Republicans outed for being the gay, cross-dressing hypocrites they really are. I don't have anything against homosexuals or cross-dressers, but to pretend you're all about "family values", and vote against gay rights when in reality you really are gay is a total betrayal. Why aren't Republicans upset about that? Oh yeah, because their rhetoric is all ********. They don't really have a single value that doesn't involve the dollar. Cheney is a criminal, and a disgusting, lying pig. Bush would beat him in reprehensibility, only no one can really understand anything that comes out of his mouth. If you all really understood the damage this administration has done to our civil liberties, our economy, and to how we are perceived by the rest of the world (which actually increases the danger of terrorism), you would be just as outraged as the rest of us. Instead of spewing out the same Bush rhetoric, why not do some research and think for yourself? I can't believe that anyone with families or who has any love at all for their country could countenance the crimes of the administration. Republicans say that those of us who are against the war and against the policies of this administration are traitors. This couldn't be further from the truth. We're actually the real patriots. We want to preserve the very rights and freedoms that millions of people have historically fought and died for. To say that because we don't want our soldiers to have indefinite deployments and that we want them to have actual working equipment, and to have the health care they deserve when they come home, to not have our soldiers participate in an illegal occupation, and to have at least a few dollars of the trillions we've spent on Iraq actually go to Iraqis is not "supporting the troops" is the real betrayal of our troops, and is a ridiculous lie. If you really "supported the troops", you would be just as angry with the administration's catastrophic failures as the rest of us.

I love it. Liberal Democrats though they'd run away with the Iraq War debate. Now it's coming back to bite them in the "ass." We are winning. Good News. Even Murtha is backpeddling and the media isn't so interested in our efforts there anymore. Bush, "the Chimp," once again beats the Left. Now what will the Democrats whine about? A booming economy? Do these left wing blowhards really think the majority of hard working, independent, self-reliant, tax paying citizens are going to vote for massive tax increases, loss of our culture through open borders, and the destruction of the greatest health care system (not perfect, but still the greatest) via big government? Please.